The Proclamation of Philip VI (56 years) a decade ago brought about substantial changes in the Crown. The new King made the decision to reduce the royal family to his wife, Queen Letizia, her two daughters: Leonor and Sofía, and his parents Juan Carlos and Sofía. A decision that caused a family schism between the monarch and his sisters.
In 2011, Infanta Cristina was removed from any official act of the Crown as a result of her involvement in the Noòs Case and only three years later it was Elena who followed in her footsteps at the express wish of Don Felipe, who went further by withdrawing the title of Duchess of Palma to her little sister with the aim of completely distancing herself from the controversy that clouded her image at the time. With this revolutionary decision, Elena and Cristina were completely erased from any institutional act. A step back that felt especially bad for her older sister, the one most involved in everything related to the Royal House.
The best family images of Letizia and Felipe with Leonor and Sofía
Since then, Infanta Elena’s presence at institutional events has been very limited. Until this week has returned to the official agenda of the Royal House through the front door. Of course, this is something specific since Felipe VI’s sister does not belong to the active members of the royal family.
The surprise presence of Infanta Elena on the Casa Real agenda
To remember the last time that Infanta Elena presided over a public event we have to look back three years. It was in 2021 when Juan Carlos and Sofía’s first-born daughter was in charge of some children’s awards and as if time had not passed, she showed the most affectionate and relaxed side of her.
This week will face two different acts. As she has confirmed Casa Real will be next Thursday, June 6, when the Duchess of Lugo visits the Royal Collections Gallery of the Royal Palace to chair the award ceremony of the XXXIII edition of the ‘Children and Youth Painting Contest for Schools’‘ of National Heritage. Two days later, on Sunday, June 9, we will be able to see it in the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas in Madrid on the occasion of the traditional charity bullfight at the San Isidro Fair. An act with which he defends his passion for bullfighting, something that has always united him with Don Juan Carlos and has distanced him from the rest of the family.
It is unknown if on this occasion she will be accompanied by her children, Felipe Juan Froilán and Victoria Federica, since both have inherited the passion for bullfighting from their mother and grandfather. Queen Sofia will complete the weekly agenda of the Royal House with her public appearance in Granada on the occasion of the ballet gala to benefit the foundation that bears her name within the framework of the International Music and Dance Festival.
This is the true relationship of Felipe and Letizia with Infanta Elena
During her childhood, Infanta Elena had a very protective role over her little brother. Later, both she and Cristina supported Felipe in each of the steps he took, even if that meant going against his parents, like when he decided to marry Letizia Ortiz. However, Elena’s positioning at Cristina’s side in the midst of the Noòs Case scandal, and the accession of Felipe and Letizia to the throne, disrupted everything.
For years, distancing has marked the relationship between the kings and their sisters-in-law. A separation that came to an end just a few months ago when Infanta Elena did not hesitate to invite her brother and her sister-in-law to her birthday party. Later, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia responded to this gesture by repeating the invitation, this time to Leonor’s 18th birthday. Since that moment it seems that things between them are much better, who knows if we will soon see them enjoying the summer at the Marivent Palace as before.
Queen Letizia packs her bags to head to Guatemala
Queen Letizia begins next Tuesday, June 4, her ninth Cooperation trip since her accession to the throne in 2014. Not even the painful injury she suffers in her right foot has been an impediment for Felipe VI’s wife from deciding to set out to Guatemala as planned in their agenda. The objective of your visit, which will last three intense days, is to learn about the projects that the Spanish Cooperation carries out in support of children, the fight against malnutrition and the elimination of gender violence with a special impact on indigenous peoples.
About to mark 10 years since the Proclamation of Felipe VI that changed everything, Doña Letizia heads to Guatemala, the last country that Doña Sofía visited before King Juan Carlos abdicated in favor of her son and, therefore, handed over the witness to his daughter-in-law for constitutional reasons.
